Course Descriptions

Department of Psychology

PSYC 500 (3-3-0) Statistics: An advanced statistics course including such topics as probability, the binomial and Poisson distributions, linear regression and multiple regression correlation techniques, analysis of variance, and non-parametric test of significance. Prerequisite: Undergraduate Statistics and Experimental Psychology or Research Methods.

PSYC 501 (4-3-1) Research Design and Quan Meth: A study of experimental and correlational methods of psychological research, including single subject designs emphasizing the application of parametric and nonparametric statistical methods to psychological research.

PSYC 505 (3-3-0) Research Methods: A course covering the rationale, design, and methods of conductions psychological and counseling research.
Prerequisite: PSYC 500

PSYC 509 (3-3-0) Advanced Designs and Analysis: A study of advanced statistical inference, including the analysis of variance, multiple comparison techniques and multivariate models including multiple and partial regression, combined with advanced principles of research designs that fit these statistical models.
Prerequisite: PSYC 505

PSYC 510 (3-3-0) Research Design and Methods: A course covering the rationale, design and methods of conducting psychological research.

PSYC 515 (3-3-0) Psychology of Diversity: A study of the issues and influences of gender, sexual orientation and the major racial/ethnic and cultural groups in the United States on the theoretical and research paradigms in psychology and on clinical and counseling practices. The course expands students' frame of reference concerning human diversity and applies this knowledge of counseling and research issues in psychology.

PSYC 516 (3-3-0) Developmental Psychology: A study of the theories, principles, and concepts of cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of children and adolescents, with special emphasis on how they function in the family, school, and groups.

PSYC 520 (3-3-0) Behavior Therapies: A study of the principles of behavior therapies and their applications to behavior problems in various settings with an emphasis on behavior modification and cognitive behavior therapy.

PSYC 525 (3-3-0) Ethical and Professional Issues: A survey of the roles and responsibilities of mental health professionals; includes legal and ethical standards (ACA and APA) in professional practice, testing, and research. This course also reviews the professional identity and roles of counselors and psychologists. Pre-requisite: Permission of instructor.

PSYC 540 (3-3-0) Seminar in Health Psychology: This seminar will examine the links between medicine and psychology, including relevance of biological, personal, cognitive, developmental, social, environmental, and cultural variables to health and illness. Health, illness, health and illness behavior will be studied with the aim of greater understanding of health issues, the individual's relationship to these issues within individual, cultural, and cross-cultural contexts.

PSYC 550 (3-3-0) Psychopthology: A study of the etiology, symptomology, diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders, encompassing a multicultural perspective, with an introduction to and laboratory on the use of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Prerequisite: PSYC 530 with a minimum grade of B Or PSYC 611 with a minimum grade of B

PSYC 555 (3-3-0) Cognitive Aspects of Behavior: A study of the theories, principles, and current research in the cognitive sciences in relation to basic psychological research and applications to counseling. Special emphasis is placed on information processing, memory and the interface between cognition and affect. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.

PSYC 570 (3-3-0) Clinical Neuropsychology: This course will introduce students to the relationship between brain malfunction and behavior. The emphasis of the course will be the assessment and early diagnosis of lesions that disrupt brain functioning. Topics to be examined will include neuropsychological assessment of language disorders such as asphasia and anomia, disorders of visuo-spatial perception, brain injury, memory disorders, and dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) . Other topics to be discussed include the teaching of intervention strategies for neurological disorders.

PSYC 575 (3-3-0) Biological Aspects of Behavior: A study of brain functions in relation to intelligence, speech, memory, emotions, and visual-spatial abilities, with attention to individual differences in both normal and brain-damaged persons.

PSYC 600 (3-3-0) Physiological Psychology: A study of brain functions in relation to intelligence, speech, memory, emotions, and visual-spatial abilities, with attention to individual differences in both normal and brain-damaged persons.

PSYC 601 (3-3-0) Biofeedback Techniques: A study of biofeedback training related to psychology, focusing on theories, significant research, and applications of biofeedback techniques.

PSYC 603 (3-3-0) Psychopharmacology: A study of the use and abuse of psychoactive drugs and their behavioral and neurophysiological effects in normal and clinical populations.

PSYC 611 (3-3-0) Theories of Counseling: An exploration of the philosophy and theories of counseling, the roles and responsibilities of counselors, practical ethics, and current issues in counseling.

PSYC 612 (3-3-0) Techniques and Process in Counseling: A study of the process and development of the essential skills and techniques used in counseling psychology. This course includes a laboratory experience.
Prerequisite: PSYC 611

PSYC 619 (3-3-0) Cognitive and Intellect Assessment: Administration, scoring and interpretation of intelligence, memory and achievement tests with adults and children. Psychometric properties and report writing are covered.

PSYC 620 (3-3-0) Psychological Assessment and Testing: A study of the evaluation, selection, use, and interpretation of psychological tests in development, clinical and counseling settings.
Prerequisite: PSYC 612

PSYC 622 (3-3-0) Psychopathology: A study of the etiology, symptomology, diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders, encompassing a multicultural perspective, with an introduction to and laboratory on the use of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Prerequisite: PSYC 511 Or PSYC 611

PSYC 623 (3-3-0) Personality and Psychopathology Assessment: Principles of trait measurement including the administration, scoring, and interpretation of objective tests (including the MMPI). Also covered are behavioral assessment techniques including direct observation approaches. Prequisite: Psychology 622- Psychopathology
Prerequisite: PSYC 622

PSYC 630 (3-3-0) Techniques in Crisis Intervention: A study of the theory, skills, and techniques of emergency psychological intervention and counseling with persons experiencing intense situational and emotional distress.

PSYC 631 (3-3-0) Career Counseling: A survey of theories of vocational development, methods of developing a career information program, and procedures for providing interrelated personal, social, educational and vocational counseling.
Prerequisite: PSYC 612

PSYC 632 (3-3-0) Theory and Practices of Family Counseling: A study of the major theories and classifications of marriage and family counseling approaches and practices.

PSYC 633 (3-3-0) Techniques and Processes in Family Counseling: A study of the processes and development of essential skills and techniques applicable to family counseling. This course includes a laboratory experience.
Prerequisite: PSYC 632

PSYC 634 (3-3-0) Group Counseling: A study of the group counseling processes with emphasis on understanding the basic concepts and principles, and the development of group counseling skills through laboratory experience.
Prerequisite: PSYC 612

PSYC 638 (3-3-0) Perceptual and Cognitive Development: A study of the theories, principles, and research in cognitive and perceptual development. Special emphasis is placed on the interaction of perception and cognition and how they influence behavior, thinking, and decision-making processes in children and adults.

PSYC 640 (3-3-0) Social Aspects of Behavior: A focus on current research and theory in selected topics related to social psychology, such as attitudes, dehumanization, conformity, aggression, and effective group functioning and change.

PSYC 641 (3-3-0) Advanced Developmental Psychology: An in-depth examination of the principles, theories and research related to human growth and development. Survey and evaluation of the basic philosophies, recognized theories, and supportive research related to the growth and development of children.
Prerequisite: PSYC 516

PSYC 642 (3-3-0) Psychology of Aging: An in-depth study of the theories and research related to the processes in adult development and aging.

PSYC 652 (3-3-0) Principles and Techniques of Teaching Psychology: This course is designed to prepare psychology majors for the teaching of psychology at the junior and community college level and as teaching assistants. The course involves syllabus preparation, selection of instructional material, testing, evaluation, and demonstration lectures.

PSYC 671 (3-3-0) Seminar in Selected Topics in Psychology: Special areas of psychological research and theory that are not traditionally offered in other graduate courses in psychology will be offered in a seminar forum. These offerings will be based on both student interest and need, and faculty experience, and proficiencies. Completion of 18 credit hours in graduate psychology program and permission of Instructor.

PSYC 672 (3-3-0) Seminar in Current Issues in Psychology: Intensive study of current topics in various areas of psychology. This course focuses on recent advances in major psychological theories, major methodological problems involved in utilizing various theories for experimental and applied research, ethical issues, and public policies. Completion of 18 credit hours in graduate psychology program and permission of Instructor.

PSYC 680 (3-3-0) Clinical Practicum I: A structured supervised experience in counseling practice, assessment and/or psychotherapy with clients at campus and/or local agencies. May be repeated.
Prerequisite: PSYC 611 And PSYC 612

PSYC 681 (3-3-0) Clinical Practicum II: A structured supervised experience in counseling practice, assessment and/or psychotherapy with clients at campus and/or local agencies. May be repeated.
Prerequisite: PSYC 680

PSYC 685 (3-3-0) Independent Study: Individual study in an area of interest to student under the supervision of a psychology faculty.

PSYC 691 (3-3-0) Directed Study: Supervised research on a topic of choice approved by a committee of three faculty members, with an oral examination required.
Prerequisite: PSYC 500 And PSYC 510

PSYC 692 (3-3-0) Tests and Measurements: An intensive review of the theories and models underlying psychological tests and measurement procedures. The course will focus on the study of the psychometric properties of test instruments and the valuative criteria used to assess the reliability and validity of psychological measures.
Prerequisite: PSYC 390

PSYC 693 (3-3-0) Thesis Research: An extensive research experience in an approved topic of choice.
Prerequisite: PSYC 500 And PSYC 505

PSYC 899 (0-0-0) Thesis Non-Credit: This course is required for students that have completed their course work and the number of thesis hours for credit required in their graduate degree program. Students who will continue to use University resources in completing their thesis must enroll in this course.